Variety (Sep 1938)

58 VARIETY LEGITIMATE Wednesday, September 28, 1938 Play Abroad BRAVE NEW WORLD (IN ENGLISH) Paris, Sept. 16. Drama In two acts (U scenes) by Louis Wullnsky, based on the novel by AUlous Huxley: presented by Edward Stirling and the English Players. At Theatre de l'Oeuvre. Pails, Director of Hatcheries Edward Stirling First Student Ib Melehtor Henry Porster James Mllner Lenlna Crowe » Irene Dale Fnnny Beatrice Mackey Benito Hoover John Stobun Bernard Marx Hugh Grant Helmholz Watson Tom Sutterby' Guide Ib Melchlor Savage ....Edward Stirling Linda Rita Tivkelle Archsongster of Canterbury. ...> Alan Wade Headmistress of Eton Noel Grohamp Dr. Shaw Eric Laurlslon Guest Gordon Jnmes Nurse ...Noele Grahame First Child . Donatello An Alpha Claude Dray First Delta William Doan Second Delta Philip Franks Senrgent Police... Alan Wade World Controller Arthur Burne Reporter of the Hourly Radio Flash Ib Melchlor 'Brave New World* attempts to take the predicted occurrences of 500 years hence, as set forth in Aldous Huxley's controversial novel, and show life of that future in contrast to the modern time. And basically, it does very well. To present our planet as imagined five centuries hence, where scientific hypothesis and psychological subtle- ties unfold in a biological world, is no mean undertaking, but Louis Wal- insky has to a great measure suc- ceeded in condensing Huxley's book into one evening's entertainment. It's a world of test tubes where sex and its relationships are main- tained but reproduction is confined to hatcheries, where so much of this or so much of that, added to the vials containing the human embryo, makes Alphas, Betas. Deltas, etc., namely, administrative workers, laborers, musicians, et al., once they are •hatched' and put out into a world where everyone's body belongs to everyone else. Personal liberties and personal ideas don't exist in this brave new world and punishment awaits those who insist on having thoughts which diverge from the mass 'conditioning' which make them the types for which they are created. In this case Bernard Marx does have a desire for personal liberties and his friend, Helmoz. is not entirely satisfied with the official slogans which make up the sole literature of the age. They are, therefore, banished toe the un- civilized island of England. Marked contrast is introduced by a so-called savage, who is brought back from a reservation in Mexico. His views are those of today; he likes Shakespeare and looks upon love, womanhood and childbirth as we know it now. With him iz his mother. Hers are the beliefs of the new world but the son clings to the natural likes and dislikes of those with whom he has been raised. Two of most tragic anc stirring scenes are when the savage, brought back to the new world for study and obser- vation, falls in love with a laboratory assistant and she's incapable of re- ciprocating since she has been taught to regard her body as belonging to everyone. The other is when his mother dies, she withers as a flower, but to the accompaniment of music and surrounded by children who are being taught that death is ordinary and must be regarded as common- place, like breakfast each morning. In the end, when he, too. is banished for his unorthodox beliefs, •md re- fuses to be converted to more mod- ern mannerisms, he hangs himself rather than continue to live. From the first scene where the human spawn are being 'conditioned* until the savage hangs himself, events unfold that are ordinary in that world but amazing even to pres- ent imaginations. Women giving themselves freely and speaking of the act afterwards, as they would today of a dinner or a show; men openly discussing what is today re- garded sacred, a world where none of the finer relationships exists leaves the impression that, despite its shortcomings, our age is better by comparison. Edward Stirling, as first the direc- tor of the hatcheries and later the savage, carries a great deal of the nlay with decision and force. Hugh Grant, as Bernard Marx, just misses turning in an'excellent oerformance, but Tom Sutterby, as the emotional engineer, fails to click at all. Irene Dale, as the laboratory assistant, with whom the savage falls in love, maintains a one-for-all and all-forr one impression throughout with ex- cellence. Rita Trekelle, as the sav- af»e's mother, handles a difficult part effectively. Arthur Burne makes an imnressive World Controller. While efforts have been made to carry out the futuristic with cos- tumes and decorations, nothing new is shown, only the most modern of what we know as modern being used. Another fault which it would be T After four of the most enjoyable and successful weeks of my career, I leave you BILLY ROSE, and the en- tire cast and staff of the CASA MAN ANA, N. Y. f with a feeling of regret I am grateful for your offer to remain four additional weeks, but due to ad- vance bookings, had to sail Sept. 22 to open at the GROSVENOR HOUSE, LONDON, ENGLAND, Sept. 29, with the lovely SANDRA LYNN for an indefinite engagement. AL TRAHAN Direction MUSIC CORPORATION OF AMERICA P. S.—Many Thanks to My Pal, Larry Puck most difficult to overcome Is that the .reactions of those incubator inhabi- tants are not those of 500 years from now, not those of the world they are supposed to live in, but those of to- day. Mannerisms, ways of speaking and acting are all every day. In a brave new world, where life's sta- tion is predetermined and all men are born of a certain formula, more conformity of action should 12 seen than Is shown here. Biz for the play has been good. Hugo. Plays on Broadway YOU NEVER KNOW (Continued from page 56) Mexican previously used raven tresses on Broadway, but now she is auburn, and somehow that does not seem to improve her appear- ance. She is using .certain manner- isms which were repeated during the premiere, probably because the peppery one was over-anxious. On tour and during rehearsals here Miss Velez was reported exhibiting much temperament, all such stories being denied by the Shuberts. Miss Velez scores with Clifton Webb in 'Alpha to Omega,* 'By Candlelight' also being well handled by the duo. Latter is by Robert Katscher, co-composer with Porter, and one of the German original's author. She does well with a num- ber titled 'What Shall I Do?' but it's her impressions of name people of the stage and screen that turn the trick rather than the ditty. Best received was her imitation of Zorina in 'I Married an Angel.' First night idea of the top num- ber was 'For No Rhyme or Reason,' delivered by Toby Wing, film player, and Charles Kemper, plus a produc- tion ensemble. Miss Wing comes through now and.then. Libby Hol- man has comparatively little to do, her numbers being weak. Nor does Webb look at his best for the same reason. He capers around a lot in the second act, boringly. 'At Long Last Love' is fair, while 'No,' an interpolated song late in the show, started by Miss Holman and then duetted by Webb, does not get much past first base despite plaudits of friends. Number was staged weird- ly, which doesn't help either. June Preisser was added to the show, and there again the talent is not used to the best purpose. The Hartmans are also added starters and do well, with little aid from the business of the show. Comic ballroom hoofers are on twice and first-nighters gave them the best of the breaks. Rex O'Malley is the lead on the book end, playing the part of a baron, whose valet impersonates him while ori the make for a wealthy girl, who turns out to be that lass* parlor maid (Miss Velez). Story tfoes on that way and at the finale the big shots appear as servants to the dr'essed-uD servants. Rather small number of girls and boys in the ensemble are mostly atmosphere, for the book is majored. However, there are some production numbers, best of which is 'Take a Trip for Yourself,' in a railway sta- tion, setting being too, but chorus or- dinary, handling the lyrics is ani- mated for a change. In the going are the Debonairs (6), who were unfortunate enough to be in the most dislinct musical floo of last season, 'Between the Devil.' Dance routine by the male sextet is almost the same, with a bit of business added. There was an excellent ticket de- mand for 'You Never Know' before it opened, and good houses are as- sured for the balance of the week, but from then on it is likely to be different. Show was handled en- tirely, by the J. J. Shubert end of the firm, Lee having nothing to say about it. Ibee. 'Romance' in Jersey Town Forte $8,000 Maplewood. N. J., Sept. 27. Cornelia Otis Skinner, in 'Ro- mance,' hit the tops of a very suc- cessful season for Frank McCoy and O. E. Wee at the Madewood theatre by soaring over $8,000 on the week, with an extra matinee Friday. Cur- rent attraction is Jane Cowl in 'The Road to Rome.' Estimate for Last Week Ttomance' (Maplewood) (1,420: 25- $1). # With an added matinee Friday, making nine performances on week, Miss Skinner's 'Romance' did capac- ity, $8,000. the tops of three months exceptional business. Akron Gets 'Women' Akron, Sept. 27. 'The Women' will be Akron's first legitimate attraction this year, hav- ing been booked by the Colonial theatre for one night, Oct. 13. Manager 'Dusty' Rhodes said he expects to have at least five attrac- tions, among them George M. Cohan's 'I'd Rather Be Right,' this season. Evans 9 Marathon (Continued from page 55) which the Theatre Guild presented with 60-minute dinner intermissions 'Hamlet' in Its entirety will run a trifle more than four and a hall! hours, exclusive of intermissions. It will be given six times a week, Mon day, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday nights and Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. The usual abridged version will be given Saturday nights, for a total of seven shwoings a week. There will be no Wednesday night performances. When the Guile presented 'Interlude' and 'Electra' it offered them only six times weekly Long 'Hamlet' performances will ring up at 6:45 and will break about 8:30 for a 30-minute intermission for dinner. There will be a second and very brief intermission about 10 or slightly after, and the curtain will ring down at 11:25. Wednesday and Saturday matinees will ring up at 2 p.m. Saturday evening perform ance will begin at 8:30. Scale for 'Hamlet' will be the same at all performances, with a top of $3.30 and running downward to 55c. House capacity is $2,891 and a ca- pacity week's gross on the seven performances can total $20,237. Rea son Evans is able to charge the normal $3.30 admission for a marathon performance which al lows a limited number of showings a week is that the house has a large capacity. With the front "row or- chestra removed to allow an en- larged stage, the house will seat 1,487, of which 561 are downstairs, 600 first balcony, and 326 second balcony. Guild charged .$4.40 for 'Interlude' at the limitedVcapacity Guild theatre in 1928 and $6.60 for 'Electra' at the small original John Golden theatre on West 58th (now the Filmarte) in 1931. 'Back to Methuselah,' which the Guild offered in 1922 at the old Gar- rick, was also an extra-length show, but it was given on three different nights. Scale at each performance was the regular admish, but audi- ences had to attend all three show- ings to see the whole play. Figured that Evans' performance in the full-length 'Hamlet' will be one of the most exacting physically ever undertaken by an actor, even though he has stated that most of the cuts in the normal versions of the tragedy are made from the other parts. Besides the strain of regular performances, he will presently be gin rehearsing his production of 'Henry IV in preparation for his projected repertory schedule. He plans to revive his 'Richard IF pro- duction and add a fourth show to the list. 'WOMEN' HOT $12,500 AS MONTI TEE-OFF Montreal, Sept. 27. 'The Women,' playing six nights and two mats at prices scaling from 50c to $2.50, hit on high from start, despite rain and got excellent $12,- 500. Left here Sunday (25) for week in Toronto. Estimate for Last Week •The Women,' His Majesty's (CT) (1,600; 50c-$2.50). Packei every night with SRO out last part of week; took $12,500, giving Montreal's legit season best sendoff in years. Downey to Warble In Wanger's Campus Carney Hollywood, Sept. 27. Morton Downey plays the singing lead in Walter Wanger's 'Winter Car- nival,* a picture with a Dartmouth College background. Shooting starts after Christmas holidays. Singer is currently at Cocoanut Grove. Seven-Eighths Salary OK'd for 'Knickerbocker' Permission to pay only seven- eighths of a week's salary to the cast of 'Knickerbocker Holiday' was yes- terday (Tuesday) granted the Play- wrights Co. by Actors Equity coun- cil. 'Knickerbocker,' the Maxwell Anderson-Kurt Weill musical which the Playwrights are producing, is at the Shubert, Boston, this week. It was to have opened there Monday (26), but was set back until last night (Tuesday) by the effects of last week's storm. K. C. SLUMP AFTER TINS' Kansas City, Sept. 27. 'Pins and Needles,' garment work- ers' musical, opens the road season in K. C. with a three-day engage- ment beginning Thursday (29). Management is expecting a heavy turnout, making Thursday CIO night and Friday A. F. L. night Union-produced play is the only legit show set for the Music Hall of the Muny aud up to the first of the year. Beginning early in January, however, town will' have a heavy season, including George M. Cohan in 'I'd Rather Be Right,' Ethel Barry- jnore in 'Whiteoaks' and a return engagement of 'You Can't Take It With Yom.' Several plays will be dated in here following Chicago runs, notably 'Susan and God,' 'Golden Boy' and 'Our Town.' Season will also see John and Elaine Barrymore in a new play, yet unannounced, Alfred Lunt-Lynne Fontaine and Ed Wynn, among others. As was the case during the past two seasons, Music Hall series will be under the direction of George Goldman, Muny aud manager, with Jimmy Nixon on the promotional end. Indianapolis, Sept. 27. English theatre opens Nov. 1, when 'Pins and Needles' comes i for two-day run. Garment workers' play will be followed by 'I'd Rather Be Right,' for three evening per- formances and matinee starting Nov. 10. Bills Next Week (Continued from page 51) Cornles Ship Bon Boe Ore Ralph Lewis Devlnes Eagles Rod Roberts Ore Al Buettner Oro Vallle Jay Oro Wally Millar Ore Mablo Drake Bob Garrlty Concertina Eddie Hotel Schroeder (Empire Boom) Lawrence Wells Ore Jerry Burke Walter Bloom Lois Best Llndy's Colgrove 3 Rick & Snyder Miami Club Ray Wencll. Jackson & Nedra Poggy Moore Ellen Kaye Sklppy Reel Rita Devere Peggy Geary Johnny Davis Ore Mllwnukean Helen Kaye Harold Wlllette Ore Bert Snyder Ramona Costello Old Heidelberg Seppol Bock- Ore Open Door Tlnnoy LIvong'd Or l'ncknrd Ballroom Rod BUllngs Oro Varadlse Gardens Anthony Dbrla Oro Tarts Al Cavaliers Ore Caspor Reda Oro Joe Gumln Ore Rendezvous Lou Jennings Patsy Carrol Jean Harmon Cloono Hayes Jean Jacques Vera Robsol Reno Joe Le Grand Rudy Sager Oro Schwartz Bill Carlson Oro Tic Top Tap Bert Gilbert Town and Country Club Frank Grim Oro Mirth's Futurlstlo Steve Swedish Oro Eddy & Eddy Bill Schweitzer Oro Wisconsin Roof NIc Harper Oro Loralne De Wood James Noble DETROIT Ambnssador Club Billy Van Gonzalez & 3 De Nlra Bcbo Sherman Don Ernesto Ambassador Ore Book-Cudlllac Hotel (Book Casino) Bobble Grayson Ore Bill Conway Jtmmle Stevenson (Motor llur) Callfornlans Lawrence La Prise Chene-Tcpmbley Eddie Farley Ore Arlene & Borden Bangor & Andrlllta WolcOtts Kim Kco Marie Keane Frank Bolasco Commodore Club C Cromwell Ore Joe Penman Russell & Story Love Birds Commodorottes (3) Hotel St a tier (Terrace Room) Frank Gagen Oro Neblolo Cafe Leonard Seel Ore Belmont!) Elaine Manzl Helen Hart Northwuod Inn Hay Carlln Ore Monty Wysong Bobby Cook Kantoro & Lorraine blgrld Dugnlo Oasis 8 Guardsmen Ames & Vivian Leola Taylor Hal Borne Oro Tlnntutlon Club Cecil Lee Ore Dot Soltcrs Snooks Howard Brown Belles (10) Llthla Hill June Harris Dewey Brown Tundelayo & Lopes l'onatan Chaz Chase 2 Waynes . Paul Neighbor Oro Dr Arthur Marcus Yvonne Monoff Bennett Dancers Saks Lcs Arquotte Oro Ralph Fisher Wesley Whltohouss Jean Sargent Danny White Duanos To-Jo Farms Phil - Burnono Oro Carroll & Gorman Webster Ilnll (Cocktail Urlll) Art Mooney Oro Tommy Martin Jean Shallor Rosemary Dcorlng Henry Van Ktecden Roger Hoffman Wonder Bar Dorothy Berlin Al Vlorra Ore Australian and Now Zealand Thea- tres, Ltd., Managing Dlroctors' Frunk S. Talt, S. S. Crick, G. B. Dean, Present:— VIOLET CARLSON nn the Star of "ROSE-MARIE" ROYAL THEATRE SIDNEY, AUSTRALIA